Trekking in the Siguniang Mountains of Aba Tibetan Autonomous Region
Duration: 7-10 days
Months offered: Year round
Costs: From
$900
This range of high 6,000 meter peaks is less than a days drive northwest
of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. The Qionglai mountains
reach their highest point here on the 6,250m summit of saber shaped
Mt. Siguniang. This pristine section of the Qionglai range is composed
of three parallel north south running valleys. The Chang Ping valley
is our first destination. This perfect u-shaped valley, with virtually
no elevation gain, takes us through old growth juniper and hemlock
forests, past the remains of monasteries, to the Siguniang massif.
Siguniang roughly translates to "4-sisiter mountains." This is a new name given by the Chinese. The original Tibetan name of the peaks was Kula Shidak-meaning abode of the mountain god. Near the main peak of Siguniang are several huge granite walls similar in size and beauty to the Torres Del Paine in Patagonia. One of these walls, directly across the valley from Siguniang, is a perfect granite pyramid called celestial peak. Americans first climbed this peak in the mid-1980s. From Siguniang's basecamp we continue to a moderate pass bringing us into the Double Bridge valley. This valley, like the Chang Ping, is a mountain sanctuary rivaled nowhere else in Aba. While hiking we have the option of checking out side valleys which lead up to the glaciers of these towering peaks. In the evening we camp in spots of our choice. The last stop before departing the Qionglai mountains, is Haizi Gou, meaning lake valley. Lakes abound in this heavily forested area. Hovering over the valley are the east faces of Siguniang, and its sister peaks. A side excursion on this trip is to hike out of the Siguniang range into the famed Wolong Giant Panda reserve. This hike takes in some of the beautiful lower regions of the Qionglai, mountains forested in bamboo-the staple food of the panda, and may even include the sighting of a takin bull, snow leopard, or a giant panda.
